Biological and psychological correlates of self-reported and objective sleep measures

ObjectiveObjective and self-reported sleep are only moderately correlated and it is uncertain if these two types of sleep measures are associated with distinct biological and psychological outcomes.MethodsParticipants were 119 healthy women aged 26 years on average. Cortisol and blood pressure assessed over one day were the measures of biological function. Psychological variables included optimism, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect as well as emotional distress. Sleep was assessed with the Pittsburgh Quality Index (PSQI), wrist actigraphy and sleep diaries.ResultsGlobal sleep ratings on the PSQI were unrelated to objective sleep efficiency, duration or latency. Sleep duration derived from sleep diaries was highly correlated with objective duration but was unrelated to the PSQI measure. More disturbed sleep on the PSQI was associated with lower psychological wellbeing, as indicated by reduced levels of optimism, life satisfaction and positive affect as well as greater negative affect and emotional distress. Objective sleep efficiency was reduced among participants with lower positive and higher negative affect but there were no other associations between objective sleep indicators and psychological variables tested in our study. Participants with poorer self-reported sleep had lower cortisol awakening response while those with longer objective sleep latency had higher diastolic blood pressure, independently of covariates.ConclusionOur study reveals that self-reported and objective sleep measures, in particular those regarding sleep quality, are weakly associated but have different psychological and biological correlates. This suggests that findings relating self-reported sleep may not necessarily be corroborated by objective sleep indicators.     

Adults in All Body Mass Index Categories Underestimate Daily Energy Requirements

ObjectiveTo compare the difference between self-reported and calculated daily energy requirements of adults within different body mass index (BMI) categories.MethodsAdults (n = 978) self-reported daily energy requirements, demographic information, and height, weight, age, and physical activity level (PAL) to calculate total energy expenditure.ResultsThe main effects of BMI, gender, PAL, and dieting status on the difference between self-reported and calculated energy requirements for weight maintenance were significant (P < .05); age, race/ethnicity, level of education, and being in a health-related field had no effect. Individuals across all BMI categories underestimated their energy requirements, but obese individuals underestimated to the greatest degree. Males, current dieters, and those who reported a low-active or active PAL underestimated to the greatest extent in each category.Conclusions and ImplicationsThere is a lack of basic nutrition knowledge about personal energy needs in individuals across all BMI categories regardless of age, race/ethnicity, level of education, or work/training in a health-related field.     

Poly I:C primes the suppressive function of human palatine tonsil-derived MSCs against Th17 differentiation by increasing PD-L1 expression

It has been established that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can have a suppressive effect on T cells, yet much remains unknown about the underlying mechanisms that support this effect. The T cell co-stimulatory pathway involving the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand PD-L1 regulates T cell activation, tolerance, and subsequent immune-mediated tissue damage. In this study, human palatine tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) constitutively expressed PD-L1 and exhibited a suppressive activity that specifically targeted murine Th17 differentiation. Additionally, polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand, increased PD-L1 expression on T-MSCs. The elevated PD-L1 levels enhanced the suppressive functions of T-MSCs on Th17 differentiation. Therefore, pre-stimulation of T-MSCs with poly I:C may serve as an effective therapeutic priming step for modulating Th17-dominant immune responses.     

Child Abuse and Disability in an Ontario Community Sample: Does Social Capital Matter?

Researchers have established a link between abuse and disability, but most abused individuals do not experience disability. While some survivors are severely harmed by their experiences of abuse, other survivors of similar exposure appear to have no long-term health problems. Can the presence of social capital account for these differences? Cross-sectional data from the Ontario Health Supplement were used to assess the association between child abuse, age, social capital (social connections and disruptions in living circumstances and relationships), cultural capital (education and occupation) and financial capital (money) and disability in a female community sample (n=4238). The results suggest that abuse (physical and sexual) and financial capital are associated with disability, but not social capital.     

Early Impacts of a Healthy Food Distribution Program on the Availability and Price of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Small Retail Venues in Los Angeles

Healthy food distribution programs that allow small retailers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices may increase the profitability of selling produce. While promising, little is known about how these programs affect the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved communities. This study examined the impacts of a healthy food distribution program in Los Angeles County over its first year of operation (August 2015–2016). Assessment methods included: (1) a brief survey examining the characteristics, purchasing habits, and attitudes of stores entering the program; (2) longitudinal tracking of sales data examining changes in the volume and variety of fruits and vegetables distributed through the program; and (3) the collection of comparison price data from wholesale market databases and local grocery stores. Seventeen stores participated in the program over the study period. One-fourth of survey respondents reported no recent experience selling produce. Analysis of sales data showed that, on average, the total volume of produce distributed through the program increased by six pounds per week over the study period (95% confidence limit: 4.50, 7.50); trends varied by store and produce type. Produce prices offered through the program approximated those at wholesale markets, and were lower than prices at full-service grocers. Results suggest that healthy food distribution programs may reduce certain supply-side barriers to offering fresh produce in small retail venues. While promising, more work is needed to understand the impacts of such programs on in-store environments and consumer behaviors.